Bedfordview - Johannesburg Suburb

Bedfordview is situated 15 min from O R Tambo International and is known as the Eastern gateway to Johannesburg. Bedfordview boasts two upmarket shopping centers, Eastgate and Bedford Centre, premium health clubs, the Vodocom Golf Village and exclusive private schools. St George's and Jeppe Quondam are two of a number of recommended retirement villages in the area. Picturesque Van Buuren Road is the main arterial through Bedfordview's showcase of desirable homes. Among its many excellent restaurants are Werner's Bistro and Fournos. Bedfordview has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000.

The suburb of Bedfordview is one of the closest suburbs of Johannesburg to the OR Tambo Airport, making it an ideal stay-over place for business people. The upmarket neighbourhood is also a popular residental suburb with its almost park-like feel due to the tree-lined streets and lush gardens filled with prolific bird life.

Bedfordview is only 15 minutes from the city centre of Johannesburg. The inner city is not only the historical centre of the city but is part of an inner city regeneration project that hopes to reinstate this part of Johannesburg to its former economic and cultural glory. The aim is to transform the inner city to a place that is clean and green and safe for residents and visitors alike.

The leafy suburb of Bedfordview is close to a number of shopping malls, including Eastgate with its myriad shops, entertainment venues and excellent restaurants; and Bruma Lake flea market, which is a conversion of an old sewerage catchment area into a lakeside market, mall and commercial parks. It’s a great place to while away a couple of hours and with at least 600 traders, there’s a lot to choose from.

Gillooly’s farm is set in the heart of Bedfordview. It’s virtually a farm in the middle of the city and the tranquil atmosphere is very popular amongst locals for picnics along the lake under the trees. There are some wonderful views over the Kensington valley and the northern suburbs from here.

The Bedford Centre in Bedfordview contains 62 000m² of retail space, 24 000m² (18 floors) of office space and 420 modern apartments and penthouses. With more than 130 beautifully appointed stores, dozens of ravishing restaurants, two glittering cinema houses (including a discerning Cinema Nouveau for art releases) and 3 000 safe parking bays, the centre attracts the cream of the country's city dwellers.

History of BedfordviewAlthough the area around Bedfordview had been inhabited by black natives for thousands of years, the written history of the area commenced with the arrival of white settlers in the 19th Century.

In 1853, the farm “Elands Vontyn” was inspected and remained the property of the government until it was granted to GPL van der Linden on the 17th June 1867. The farm remained in the family for a number of years although it was subdivided.

The discovery of gold in the Transvaal held great things in store for the farm Elandsfontein. On 23rd May 1888 the whole farm was now in the hands of the Gold Mining Companies. The farm was used for mining purposes for many years. However, some of the land was de-proclaimed and became available for farmland. The de-proclaimed areas were leased for agricultural and grazing purposes.

The cavalry camp was based on the Elandsfontein farm which existed between 1899–1902. It is also held that the British Soldiers planted the oak trees along Van Buuren Road.

When the Union of South Africa was formed it was propagated that land should be made available for the settlement of mining or industrial employees in the Witwatersrand. This actually happened in 1912.

Eventually, in 1916, it was resolved, and the first 29 plots were sold. However, transfers from Geldenhuis Deep Limited was signed by the Minister of Lands on 21st February 1922, although, the land could only be used for agriculture and not for the purpose of constituting of township.

On 13th September 1945, after all formalities had been disposed of, it was granted that the Bedfordview Township was established. The necessary endorsement was made by the Register of Deeds on 25th October 1946.

Bedfordview was forced to join with Germiston and Palm Ridge to form the Transitional Council of Greater Germiston after democracy. This was in turn merged with other East-Rand towns to form the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council, which incorporated the old municipalities of Alberton, Bedfordview, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Eenvale, Germiston, Kempton Park, Nigel, and Springs.